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Springfield, New Jersey, is a city of 15,000 located in Union County. Its location near highways such as U.S. 22, Interstate 78 and the New Jersey Turnpike make it convenient for travel into New York City or points around New Jersey. One of its most famous attractions -- Baltusrol Golf Club, the site of professional golf major tournaments -- is limited to members and guests, but other attractions and businesses are open to the public.

Dining Scene

Springfield is located in a dense, urban landscape that's home to a diverse population. As such, you'll find a full selection of restaurants in and around town. Many of Springfield's restaurants are concentrated U.S. 22 and Morris Avenue. Picante (picantethetasteofmexico.com), located on Morris Avenue, serves Mexican fare while Cathay 22 (cathay22.com) on U.S. 22 has Chinese cuisine. The Muscle Maker Grill (musclemakergrill.com) puts an emphasis on healthy cuisine, while serving up Italian, Asian and Tex-Mex flavors. Scotty's Steak House (scottyssteakhouse.com) is a restaurant and comedy club where you can enjoy a meal and show.

Historical Landmarks

Like much of the surrounding area, Springfield played a role in the Revolutionary War. The Battle of Springfield occurred on June 23, 1780, nearly two decades before Springfield was incorporated. A few Revolutionary-era buildings and landmarks still stand today. In fact, the National Register of Historic Places has more than half a dozen markers listed for Springfield. Examples include the Cannon Ball House, which was used as a hospital by the British, and the town's First Presbyterian Church.

Ballpark

Ballpark (theballparkonline.com), located on U.S. 22 in Springfield, bills itself as the area's "premier indoor baseball facility." It has half a dozen batting cages that are open to the public. It offers a variety of coaching and training facilities and programs for youth players. Facilities include five baseball batting cages, one softball cage, a pitching mound with radar and a track with computerized timer. There's also a weight room and food court.

Mall at Short Hills

The Mall at Short Hills (shopshorthills-px.rtrk.com) in neighboring Millburn is one of the most upscale shopping malls in New Jersey. It features a collection of high-end shops that include Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Gucci and Tiffany & Co. The mall also features attractions such as a year-round luxury vehicle display, with models from the likes of Bentley, Land Rover and Porsche, and a grand court with large glass flower wall. Even if you can't afford to actually buy anything, the mall offers a glimpse into the world of high-end retailing.

Nearby Activities

Springfield itself isn't a major tourist destination and offers a modest selection of things to do. One of the city's best attributes, however, is its location. You're in northeastern New Jersey, within about 20 minutes of Newark and 30 minutes of Manhattan. Watch a metro-area team such as the New Jersey Devils, New York Yankees or New York Knicks; enjoy a Broadway play or performance at Newark's New Jersey Performing Arts Center (njpac.org), or visit a world-famous museum. Closer to Springfield, you'll find the Paper Mill Playhouse (papermill.org) in Millburn and Bowcraft Amusement Park (bowcraft.com) in Scotch Plains, about 10 minutes away.

Resources

About the Author

Joe Fletcher has been a writer since 2002, starting his career in politics and legislation. He has written travel and outdoor recreation articles for a variety of print and online publications, including "Rocky Mountain Magazine" and "Bomb Snow." He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers College.

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